ICF - Professions of Faith

Sunday 20th April 2025 - Easter Day

Acts 10:34-43; 1 Corinthians 15:19-26; John 20:1-18; Psalm 118:1-2, 14-24
(Alternatives: Isaiah 65:17-25; Acts 10:34-43; Luke 24:1-12)

The events of Easter Day may feel like a far cry from the world of work, not least because for many, this will be a holiday weekend when they will be away from their usual daily routines. Mary's encounter with Jesus might be used to reinforce the fact that for everyone this might not be the case. She made the initial assumption that the person she encountered in the garden must be there for the purposes of work. This in turn could become a contemporary invitation for a congregation to pause and remember those within their own number, or from our communities in general, for whom this is a normal working day. The words of the prophet Isaiah convey two important themes that could be used to build on this idea. We might assume that its inclusion for this day in the lectionary calendar is to equate the resurrection of Jesus, and all that it conveys, with the 'new thing' of which the prophet speaks. But we might also notice that this has implications for the everyday lives of the people to whom it was addressed. Houses will be built and inhabited in safety, crops will be sown but also harvested - the successful cycles of work are a sign of God's redemption. Thus a congregation might pause to consider how the re-encountered events of Easter will impact and affect their day to day working lives.

While it is hardly the central thrust of the narrative, consideration might also be given to the identity of Cornelius in the New Testament reading. He is introduced in the preceding verses through his profession as a Roman army officer. A congregation might be invited to consider what role Cornelius' profession played in his response to the Gospel. Would someone of lesser influence be able to despatch messengers, gather people in his home or enable safe passage for God's Apostle? To what degree did his working life enable the establishment of Christian Community in Caesarea? This in turn raises the question for contemporary Christians as to how the Easter message might be transmitted through their working lives and networks.

Although the key purpose of the Gospel narratives is to highlight that Jesus is risen, it may also be useful to consider why the women found themselves in the garden in the first place. It was to give dignity to Jesus through giving his broken body the respect it deserved. How might we pray for and affirm those whose working lives continue to offer dignity to those who have died? This might also connect with the questions explored around Cornelius. It was through their attention to the required practical tasks that the women became the initial conduits through which the Good News that Christ had risen became known. Again, everyday work had a role to play in discovering and disseminating the message of Easter. Consideration might also be given to how people in different professions are perceived both then and in our world today. The women's burial rituals are the kind of tasks that are unseen, taken for granted and often un-noticed. Who is un-noticed in the world of work today? How does this episode challenge prevailing attitudes to certain roles?

At the heart of the Easter morning narratives is the commitment to make the message of Christ's resurrection known. This provides an opportunity for a congregation to reflect more broadly on the significance and responsibilities of those in our society who enable the transmission of information today. This could be developed to both celebrate the work of those who work responsibly in media, and also recognise the challenges and concerns raised by the emergence of newer online platforms and channels.